By Zinny Boswell

Manchester United Supporters Trust vice chairman Sean Bones believes Jose Mourinho has not had sufficient backing from the club’s owners.

Mourinho cast a forlorn figure during pre-season – complaining about a reduced number of first-team players due to their World Cup exploits, the absence of Anthony Martial and a lack of new signings.

However, while in the United States, Mourinho was still confident of one more arrival with a central defender at the top of his list, but deals for Harry Maguire, Yerry Mina and Toby Alderweireld failed to materialise.

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Bones is confident Mourinho is improving the side, but has demanded more support from the owners to match the ambition of the supporters.

“The owners have to give a little bit more,” he added. “We are moving in the right direction, we came second last year. But, Manchester United want to win trophies, want to win the league.

“A lot of these owners want to keep the revenue streams up, so third or fourth [is fine], like Arsenal especially. But we don’t want that we want United to be competitive, win all the trophies and go for everything.”